Ofsted has been commissioned by the Department for Education to carry out a “thematic survey” on the implementation of T levels and the T-level transition programme.
The survey will take place over the new qualification’s first two years of operation, in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
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Paul Joyce, Ofsted’s deputy director for further education and skills, said: “We will be visiting a sample of providers delivering T levels and transition programmes from January 2021, either remotely or in-person where consideration of public health measures permits.
“Our inspectors will apply the education inspection framework (EIF) methodology to assess educational effectiveness and the quality of education. Our objective is to provide an independent overview of the quality of T levels.
“The strengths, weaknesses, areas for improvement and good practise identified will be aggregated and fed back to the government, as well as to providers, employers, and learners.”
The first T levels in construction, digital and education and childcare were rolled out in colleges this September. Next year, seven more are due to be taught.
The T-level transition programme is aimed at those who are not ready to take a T level but who have the potential to take one.
An interim report on Ofsted’s findings will be published in September 2021 following the first year of the survey, and a full report will follow in September 2022.
Today, the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education has launched a consultation to seek views on the craft and design T level due to be introduced in 2023.
